Ehrleite
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
About Ehrleite
Formula:
Ca4Be3Zn2(PO4)6 · 9H2O
Colour:
Colorless, White
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
3½
Specific Gravity:
2.64
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Name:
Named by G.W. Robinson, J.D. Grice, and J. Van Velthuizen in honor of Howard Ehrle, mineral collector from Miles City, Montana, USA, who found the first specimens of the mineral.
This page provides mineralogical data about Ehrleite.
Classification of Ehrleite
Approved
Approval year:
1983
First published:
1985
7/C.03-20
8.CA.10
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
C : Phosphates without additional anions, with H2O
A : With small and large/medium cations
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
C : Phosphates without additional anions, with H2O
A : With small and large/medium cations
Dana 7th ed.:
40.5.6.1
40.5.6.1
40 : HYDRATED NORMAL PHOSPHATES,ARSENATES AND VANADATES
5 : AXO4·xH2O
40 : HYDRATED NORMAL PHOSPHATES,ARSENATES AND VANADATES
5 : AXO4·xH2O
19.6.9
19 : Phosphates
6 : Phosphates of Zn
19 : Phosphates
6 : Phosphates of Zn
Physical Properties of Ehrleite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Colorless, White
Streak:
White
Hardness:
3½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Poor/Indistinct
Parting:
On (001)
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven, Sub-Conchoidal
Density:
2.64 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.49 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Ehrleite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.556 nβ = 1.560 nγ = 1.580
2V:
Measured: 62° , Calculated: 50°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.024

Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Low
Dispersion:
r > v strong
Chemical Properties of Ehrleite
Formula:
Ca4Be3Zn2(PO4)6 · 9H2O
IMA Formula:
Ca2ZnBe(PO4)2(PO3OH) · 4H2O
Crystallography of Ehrleite
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Class (H-M):
1 - Pinacoidal
Space Group:
P1
Cell Parameters:
a = 7.13 Å, b = 7.43 Å, c = 12.479 Å
α = 94.31°, β = 102.07°, γ = 82.65°
α = 94.31°, β = 102.07°, γ = 82.65°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.96 : 1 : 1.68
Unit Cell V:
639.35 ų
Z:
2
Morphology:
Tabular crystals. Forms {100}, {010} and {001}.
Twinning:
Contact twinning, by reflection on {001}.
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Show
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Display Options
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
View
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
Rotation
Stop | Start
Stop | Start
Labels
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0005218 | Ehrleite | Hawthorne F C, Grice J D (1987) The crystal structure of ehrleite, a tetrahedral sheet structure The Canadian Mineralogist 25 767-774 | ![]() | 1987 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
12.41 Å | (7) |
6.95 Å | (5) |
6.58 Å | (3) |
4.31 Å | (4) |
3.161 Å | (10) |
3.014 Å | (3) |
2.723 Å | (6) |
Type Occurrence of Ehrleite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Tabular crystals as individuals and randomly oriented in aggregates
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, Canada, 49289.
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, South Dakota, 2958.
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 160381.
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, South Dakota, 2958.
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 160381.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Complex granite pegmatite
Reference:
Robinson, G.W., Grice, J.D., Van Velthuizen, J. (1985) Ehrleite, a new calcium beryllium zinc phosphate hydrate from the Tip Top Pegmatite, Custer, South Dakota. The Canadian Mineralogist: 23: 507-510.
Synonyms of Ehrleite
Other Language Names for Ehrleite
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
1 photo of Ehrleite associated with Roscherite | Ca2Mn2+5Be4(PO4)6(OH)4 · 6H2O |
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping
8.CA. | Davidlloydite | Zn3(AsO4)2 · 4H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
8.CA. | Apexite | NaMg(PO4) · 9H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
8.CA. | Brandãoite | BeAl2(PO4)2(OH)2(H2O)5 | Tric. 1 : P1 |
8.CA.05 | Fransoletite | Ca3Be2(PO4)2(PO3OH)2 · 4H2O | Mon. |
8.CA.05 | Parafransoletite | Ca3Be2(PO4)2(PO3OH)2 · 4H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
8.CA.15 | Faheyite | Be2Mn2+Fe3+2(PO4)4 · 6H2O | Trig. 3 2 : P31 2 1 |
8.CA.20 | Gainesite | Na(Na,K)(Be,Li)Zr2(PO4)4 · 1.5-2H2O | Tet. 4mm : I41md |
8.CA.20 | Mccrillisite | NaCs(Be,Li)Zr2(PO4)4 · 1-2H2O | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I41/amd |
8.CA.20 | Selwynite | NaK(Be,Al)Zr2(PO4)4 · 2H2O | Tet. |
8.CA.25 | Pahasapaite | Li8(Ca,Li,K)10.5Be24(PO4)24 · 38H2O | Iso. 2 3 : I2 3 |
8.CA.30 | Hopeite | Zn3(PO4)2 · 4H2O | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma |
8.CA.30 | Arsenohopeite | Zn3(AsO4)2 · 4H2O | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma |
8.CA.35 | Warikahnite | Zn3(AsO4)2 · 2H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
8.CA.40 | Phosphophyllite | Zn2Fe(PO4)2 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
8.CA.45 | Parascholzite | CaZn2(PO4)2 · 2H2O | Mon. |
8.CA.45 | Scholzite | CaZn2(PO4)2 · 2H2O | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pbcm |
8.CA.50 | Keyite | Cu2+3Zn4Cd2(AsO4)6 · 2H2O | Mon. 2/m |
8.CA.55 | Pushcharovskite | K0.6Cu18(AsO4)(HAsO4)10(H2AsO4)4(OH)9.6 · 18.6H2O | Tric. |
8.CA.60 | Prosperite | Ca2Zn4(AsO4)4 · H2O | Mon. |
8.CA.65 | Gengenbachite | KFe3+3(PO3OH)4[PO2(OH)2]2 · 6H2O | Trig. 3m : P3 1c |
8.CA.70 | Parahopeite | Zn3(PO4)2 · 4H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
Related Minerals - Dana Grouping (8th Ed.)
40.5.6.2 | UM2005-02-AsO:AlHPScSi | ScAsO4 · 2H2O |
Related Minerals - Hey's Chemical Index of Minerals Grouping
19.6.1 | Tarbuttite | Zn2(PO4)(OH) | Tric. 1 : P1 |
19.6.2 | Spencerite | Zn4(PO4)2(OH)2 · 3H2O | Mon. 2/m : P2/b |
19.6.3 | Hopeite | Zn3(PO4)2 · 4H2O | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma |
19.6.4 | Parahopeite | Zn3(PO4)2 · 4H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
19.6.5 | Veszelyite | (Cu,Zn)2Zn(PO4)(OH)3 · 2H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
19.6.6 | Kipushite | (Cu,Zn)5Zn(PO4)2(OH)6 · H2O | Mon. |
19.6.7 | Scholzite | CaZn2(PO4)2 · 2H2O | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pbcm |
19.6.8 | Parascholzite | CaZn2(PO4)2 · 2H2O | Mon. |
19.6.10 | Faustite | ZnAl6(PO4)4(OH)8 · 4H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
19.6.11 | Aheylite | (Fe2+,Zn)Al6(PO4)4(OH)8 · 4H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
19.6.12 | Jungite | Ca2Zn4Fe3+8(PO4)9(OH)9 · 16H2O | Orth. |
19.6.13 | Schoonerite | ZnMn2+Fe2+2Fe3+(PO4)3(OH)2 · 9H2O | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pbam |
19.6.14 | Phosphophyllite | Zn2Fe(PO4)2 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
Fluorescence of Ehrleite
None
Other Information
Notes:
Readily soluble in cold, 20% HCl
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
References for Ehrleite
Reference List:
Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)
Robinson, G.W., Grice, J.D., Van Velthuizen, J. (1985) Ehrleite, a new calcium beryllium zinc phosphate hydrate from the Tip Top Pegmatite, Custer, South Dakota. The Canadian Mineralogist: 23: 507-510.
Hawthorne, F.C., Bladh, K.W., Burke, E.A.J., Ercit, S., Grew, E.S., Grice, J.D., Puziewicz, J., Roberts, A.C., Schedler, R.A., Shigley, J.E. (1986) New mineral names. American Mineralogist: 71: 1543-1548.
Hawthorne, F.C., Grice, J.D. (1987) The crystal structure of ehrleite, a tetrahedral sheet structure. The Canadian Mineralogist: 25: 767-774.
Jambor, J.L., Puziewicz, J. (1989) New mineral names. American Mineralogist: 74: 500-505.
Internet Links for Ehrleite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1358.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Search Engines:
External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
Localities for Ehrleite
Locality List




All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
USA (TL) | |
| Robinson, G.W., Grice, J.D., Van Velthuizen, J. (1985) Ehrleite, a new calcium beryllium zinc phosphate hydrate from the Tip Top Pegmatite, Custer, South Dakota. The Canadian Mineralogist: 23: 507-510.; Rocks & Minerals: 60: 117. |
Quick NavTopAbout EhrleiteClassification Physical Properties Optical Data Chemical Properties Crystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionType Occurrence SynonymsOther LanguagesCommon AssociatesNickel-StrunzDanaHey's CIMFluorescence Other InformationReferences Internet Links Localities Locality List
Tip Top Mine, Fourmile, Custer Mining District, Custer Co., South Dakota, USA